Improvement in safety-valves



E. B.,KUNKLE. SAFETY-VALVE. No. 193,411. 2 Patented July 24,1877.

. I I I BY ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES ERASTUS B. KUNKLE, or roar WAYNE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT lN'SAFETY-VALVESa Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,4 l l. dated July 24, 1877 application filed J une 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS B. KUNKLE, of Fort Wayne, in thecounty of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Lock-Up Safety-Valve, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has relation to safety-valves for steam-generators, and especially to valves which have applied to them means for preventing 'them from being tampered with by improper persons,

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a diametrical section through my improved valve. Fig. 2 is a top view of the valve-cap reduced in diameter. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, showing the spring-catch, spring, and springchamber and the ribs or feathers. Fig. at shows in section the key for adjusting the force of the spring on the valve.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates the tubular box or body of the instrument, which is enlarged above and contracted below, and constructed with amale thread cut on its lowerend, and a number of holes in its largest end, to receive a spanner for screwing it into place on a boiler. A screw-thread is also cut on the upper end of the body A to receive a perforated cap, B, which is held fast by a small set-screw. (Shown in Fig. 1.) In the center of the cap B is a tubular hub, b, which is screw-tapped inside part of its length, and tapered outside below the top of the cap. Above the interior threaded portion of the hub b is a chamber, into which a nut, b is applied, receiving inside of it a screw, b

0 is a cone-pointed screw, which is screwed into the hub b so as to bear centrally on a flanged cup, a. This screw 0 is grooved to receive the feather c on the inside of the barrel of a key, 0, by means of which key and a lever the screw can be turned, and ahelical spring, D, compressed more or less, as may be required. After this adjustment a soft-metal cap or seal is stamped upon the perforated head of the screw 0, and the latter locked by means of the jam-nut described.

The top of the-cover B is slotted, as shown at e e, for the escape of steam during an alarm, and concentrically cast on the bottom of the cover is an annular flange, f, which laps over the largest part or upper end of the valve G, and shuts off communication between the interior of the cap B and the long spring-chamber of the valve. 1 thus exclude everything injurious from the spring-chamber. The interior of the cylindrical wall of the cap B is constructed with a raised rib or seat, i, against which the periphery of a regulator, E, is closely fitted, as shown in Fig. 1.

The valve G is composed of a flanged portion or head, h, surrounding the upper end of a cylindrical elongated cup, adapted to contain the spring D, which is compressed between the flange of cup at and a foot, a, stepped on the bottom of the valve. The head h of the valve G is constructed with an annular bevel, 2, a small annular recess, 3, and a larger annular recess, 4, in its bottom side, which recess forms, in combination with the upper concave and stepped surfaces of the regulator E, a serpentine port, .9, for the passage of the steam from the body Ato the exitslots 6 6 through cap B, as indicated by the course of the arrows in Fig. l.

The steam first escapes between the beveled portion 2 of the valve and a corresponding beveled seat formed on a flange, j, cast on the body A. It then takes the course indicated, being prevented from blowing back by the peculiar shape of the port.

. The regulator E is a ring which is screwed on the outside of the flange j, and constructed with an annular concavity and a step, as above stated. Teeth p, or their equivalents,

are formed around the bottom of the regulator, and an oblong hole, It, is made through the skirting of the cap B, by which a rodcan be used for turning the regulator about its vertical axis, and thus adjusting it higher or lower on the flange j, increasing or diminishing the capacity of the outlet-port s.

The regulator E is heldfast, after it is properly adjusted, by means of a lip, n, which is formed on a spring, t, and which engages with the teeth 10. By pressing the lip n inward the regulator will be disengaged from it, and may be adjusted as described.

' ates on the valve-flange h, to lift the valve;

from its seat and enlarge the port 8, thereby compressing the spring D, which reacts to shut the valve when the steam in the boileris reduced to a given or predetermined pressure.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Lette'rs Patent v 1. In combination with the valve G, acted on by a spring and adjusting-screw, O, as set regulator E, a port,.s, substantially as de scribed.

2. The regulator E, provided with teeth, and working in connection with a catch, n, as and for the purpose specified.

ERASTUS B. KUNKLE.

Witnesses:

J 01m BOSTIOK, EDWARD LANNAN. 

